Empire buying begins at home

Clifford Ellis 1907 - 1985

Summary

Central text with small map of England and Wales containing a circular Union Jack. Produce in background including pea pods and strawberries. This poster is from a series of five Empire Marketing Board posters on the theme of 'The United Kingdom shows her produce' (the series title - see 1935.628). The other four posters in the collection from this poster series are 1935.590; 1935.591; 1935.592 and 1935.593. This poster is one of 222 Empire Marketing Board posters gifted to the Industrial Art Collection at Manchester Art Gallery by the Empire Marketing Board (EMB) in 1935. The EMB was established in May 1926 by the Conservative party politician Colonial Secretary Leo Amery. It was a key response to growing concern about the long-term prospects of the British economy. A distinctive feature of the EMB's work was its poster campaigns which were displayed in specially designed frames located outdoors in towns and cities throughout the UK. Five posters were shown in sequence conceived as a single linked concept. The poster campaigns were established to promote trade within the British Empire by persuading British customers to 'Buy Empire'.